Well, not really.  Not yet anyway, but I will…someday.  So I went on my first ride with my new power meter, and just as expected, it told me I suck.  I have learned to be ok with that.  I am considering my power meter to me a lot like myself.  I’m that friend that will tell you the truth, even if it hurts because I feel like that’s the right thing to do.  My power meter does the same for me.  Whenever I researched power meters and sets that use the data, they always give examples of what the readings look like.  Mine, look nothing like those.  They are way lower.  What’s a girl to do?  Just keep training and try to focus on how to use the information to make myself a better cyclist.

Deep down I knew that I was not fully exerting myself on the bike.  It’s a recreational item after all.  I remember cycling as being a freeing, casual thing… a way to get from one place to another since I was too young to drive.  It never really felt hard (except that one time we tried to ride all the way to the beach and I had to stop).  It never really felt like work.  Maybe it’s youthful ignorance.  Maybe it’s that any of that pain fades from memory but if I had to describe cycling in one word when I was younger, I would have said “fun.”

I learned to push myself in the run, and when you are near drowning, you have no choice but to push yourself in the swim, but the bike was kind of just there.  I am definitely scared of crashing and breaking bones, but even that aside, I never really tried really hard. I never pushed myself to that point that makes you groan a little and I think I need to do that.  The scary part, is that point generally goes hand in hand with speed and speed scares me.  I decided that I needed to change my training plan.  I know I am decent on the run already.  Sure, I am nowhere near as fast as other age groupers, but I am fine with my performance on the run.  I need to change out some of those run training days for cycling training days.

I decided that if I start on the trainer, I can keep the speed fears at bay and really figure out how to push myself on the bike.  I can focus easier with knowing that there is no outside stressors.  I won’t run over any creatures, no stop lights and no wet turns.  The unfortunate part is that I almost have had a harder time pushing myself indoors.  I love being outside and once I get going, I generally enjoy the ride or run.  That’s why I got rid of the treadmill.  I didn’t want to run on it.  For the bike, I think I can adjust.

I will say, that I am still very torn right now as of what to do.  I know I want to focus on the bike, but I was supposed to be focusing on the swim.  Is it possible to do both?  Am I going to make the Turkey Tri?  Do I even want to at this point?  Or do I want to pick one and focus on it?  If I do that, should it be the bike?  Ahhh the joy of multi-sport.  For now, I will push the best I can this week and see where my efforts lead me.  I know that on some days, I love each of the training types, on others I can’t stand one or more of them.  I didn’t feel like going at all today, but I am always glad when I do.